Jay Baruchel loves voice role in 'Dragon' sequel

After
How to Train Your Dragon hit theaters in 2010, kids everywhere wanted a pet dragon of
their own. Now the beloved characters have returned to the big screen.

In the first film, the awkward young Viking named Hiccup showed his
village there’s more to dragons than meets the eye.

The sequel picks up five years later on the island of Berk, where Vikings
and dragons live happily together, thanks to Hiccup’s work. While the young Viking gang plays
dragon races, Hiccup and his trusted dragon, Toothless, explore new worlds. On one adventure, they
discover a secret ice cave, and Hiccup learns there’s an outsider who wants to steal his island’s
dragons. But he won’t let that happen without a fight.

Jay Baruchel says it’s been a thrill to voice the brave Viking. The actor
says the dragons, and the story, are even more exiting in the 3-D sequel. "It’s funnier than the
first one and it’s way more epic!" Baruchel told
Time For Kids.

Q: What’s new on the island of Berk since we last left it?

A: It’s five years later, so the bond between dragons and humans is stronger.
Everyone is in love with dragons and now has one of their own. The dragons have become part of
everyday life. They’re living in perfect harmony on the little island.

Q: Have the young Vikings, like Snoutlout and Tuffnut, grown up and matured at
all?

A: They’ve grown up, but I don’t know that they have matured. They’re all
biologically older, but that’s probably where it ends! My character Hiccup and Astrid are probably
as close to mature as you can find, and they’re still kind of like kids in a lot of ways. Hiccup is
being groomed to follow in his father’s footsteps, but he doesn’t know if that’s what he wants to
do. I think a lot of kids get caught between what they want to do and what their parents expect of
them.

Q: How has your relationship with Astrid changed?

A: I think we’re a couple now. But she doesn’t make fun of me any less. One of my
favorite parts in the movie is when we see Astrid do an impression of me. It’s quite funny. She’s
every bit as tough and brave as she was in the first film.

Q: What adventures are in store for Hiccup and Toothless in the second film?

A: Throughout the movie, Toothless and I are always exploring. We find people
living with dragons in a completely different way. And there’s someone who wants to take all of our
dragons. Let me just say, we’re not going to let that happen without a fight.

Q: On his new adventure, Hiccup meets his mother, Valka. Could you talk about why
she’s important to the story?

A: When we meet Valka, we start to understand a bit more about why Hiccup is wired
the way he is. She thinks she knows everything there is to know about dragons and so does Hiccup.
The two of them sort of teach each other.

Q: How has the relationship between Hiccup and his father, Stoic, changed since
the first film?

A: Stoic has his own dragon now. His son has shown him there can be a different
way. At the same time, Stoic is still a traditional Viking. He expects all the same stuff out of
Hiccup, so they sometimes butt heads.

Q: Hiccup always seems to be looking for adventure. In that way, he is very brave
and daring. How are you like your character Hiccup and how are you different?

A: I don’t like traveling very much, so that’s how I’m different. But I think I
have a lot in common with Hiccup. Growing up, all the kids my age wanted to play baseball and
hockey. I was more interested in movies and comics. So that’s something I always felt in common
with Hiccup. He’s a bit different from the kids he grows up with, too.

Q: If you could be a dragon for a day, what would you do?

A: If I could be a dragon for a day, I would probably use my fire to barbeque. I
would fire up some hamburgers in the backyard. I might have a little fun scaring a few bullies. And
I might have to see what it’s like to fly.

Q: Why should kids go see
How To Train Your Dragon 2?

A: It’s exciting and funny and beautiful. You are going to escape to another
world. Everything you liked about the first movie is better this time.